Eighteen students, including several from EPPS, completed a four-week summer program in Toulouse, France, where they enrolled in two courses: Contemporary Social Issues, taught by Dr. Carol Cirulli Lanham, and Civil Liberties, taught by Dr. Thomas Gray.
In the Contemporary Social Issues class, students explored significant challenges facing France, such as immigration, crime, and the rise of the far right, as well as successes in areas like health care and education. The Civil Liberties course provided a comparative analysis of legal developments in France and the U.S., focusing on freedoms of speech, religion, and the evolution of equality for marginalized groups.
Outside the classroom, students experienced French culture firsthand through various activities. They visited the medieval town of Carcassonne, played the traditional French game of Petanque, and savored local cuisine during a welcome lunch and a farewell dinner. The group also took several class field trips, including one to Sciences Po, a French university focused on the social sciences, and the Cartoucherie Eco-Quarter to learn about best sustainability practices.
They will be returning to Toulouse in June 2025! To learn more about study abroad, click here.
